Hostess with the Mostess Part 2

If I labeled each blog post, which I don’t because I am too lazy, this post would include – Bucket List, Romance Novel, Acorns and Fairies. Sound intriguing? I hope so because all those labels add up to a new journal I made for Dawn over at Your Paper Pantry.

But, let’s start at the beginning shall we? Roxy from YPP saw the video I made of my Bucket List and asked me if I wanted to host a Bucket List swap on her fabulous site. Of course I agreed since hosting was on "my" Bucket List. Though unfortunately for Roxy, my swap morphed from Bucket List to Favorite Fictional Character. You can read all about it HERE.

Here's the latest update: 26 days, 14 characters that include 2 Scarlett's, 1 Eliza, 1 Bull and a Little Prince  (not Georgie) and, as of last count 9 likes, 175 replies and over 2000 views. Not too shabby for my very first hostess job, right? BTW I refuse to take it personally that only 9 gals like my swap!!

My partner's favorite character(s) were a couple from the Regency period of England from the novel A Matter of Class. Anna and Reggie's love story is filled with all the necessary trappings that any good romance novel requires. Don't want to giveaway too much, but the story has an arranged marriage. I also don't want to spoil it for you, but I promise you the ending will surprise you.   

WARNING: Photos below so Dawn, if you don't want to see, STOP READING NOW!! 

 

The Acorn Fairy lives in the tree where the two lovers meet and fall in love.

Actual oak leaves from the magical tree? 

 

 Dawn, if you now want to see more, HERE's the VIDEO.

To my fellow swappers who have already finished their journals, thank you for inspiring me. And to all of you who are still crafting, I hope my photos and video have inspired you.

Who's YOUR favorite fictional character?

The Power of YouTube. The Power of Love.

It all started with an old plastic basket I found at my favorite thrift shop. Inside was an assortment of miscellaneous threads and sewing supplies, none of which was an exceptional find, but the case was yellow, perfect for the BEEHIVE, so I bought it. Once home, I removed all the spools of threads and discovered that the case actually had a tray, which I lifted it up and discovered a wrapped box.

The box was filled with treasured mementos once owned by Jillian Rose Baily and it revealed a love story, albeit one sided, of Jillian Rose and a carnival performer named Vinni Bombo. After I posted the video, which you can view HERE, I received a message from Sarah T. who wrote that growing up she lived next door to a lovely woman who used to share stories about a relative named Vinni(e), a former carnival performer. She admitted that it probably was just a coincidence and that my Vinni probably wasn’t her Vinni(e) but she just happened to be going home for a week long visit and  promised she would let me know what she could find out.

Fast forward 4 weeks, 12 emails, two phone calls and one very special package.

Vinni and Jillian Rose did exist, not just in my imagination. Sarah T. was able to contact Vinni’s grand-niece who sent me; a framed copy of an old carnival poster, a photo album, three letters and a post card from Paris. Since she was camera shy she asked me to make a VIDEO so that the story of two lovers could be continued.

 

 

I am desperately seeking anyone who knew Jillian Rose Baily. Baily was her maiden name and I don't know if she ever married. I found the box in Los Angeles, California so I assume she lived here until her death. If you have any information please leave a comment. I am desperate to find out how this love story ended.  

The very talented Debbie from Ephemeras Vintage Garden has created a tribute to their love story which you can find HERE. Also, stop on over to her BLOG to receive her free downloads. They are awesome!  

Hostess with the Mostess

Technically, “mostess isn’t really a word. It's what you would call taking literary license for the sake of entertainment. I am using it here to refer to the most indecisive hostess ever – ME! Seriously folks, I drove poor Roxy crazy as I tried to create a simple swap on YourPaperPantry that kept on getting more and more complicated.
 

An example might be Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff from the book Wuthering Heights. (Check out the VIDEO I MADE HERE of what I might send my partner if she had chosen WH.) 

    

To help you and your partner create something you both will love, I have a questionnaire that I will post on YPP. Here’s mine:

1. Name of your character(s):  Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff

2. Where are your character(s) from? The book Wuthering Heights by Emilie Bronte. 

3. Can you tell me why you love your character(s).  Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite books of all time because of the tragic love story of Heathcliff and Catherine. The fact that it was written by a woman who never knew romantic love makes it all the more extraordinary. 

4. Is there anything you want in the journal? I want lots of blank pages and tags. 

5. Is there anything you don’t want in the journal? Interactive pages.

The ONLY requirement of this swap is that you make a journal that is BIG, FAT and FABULOUS!  

 

I will assign partners on August 5th on YourPaperPantry.  TPP is not an ordinary swap site. You need to become a member but it is easy peasy. There is a cost - $1.00 a month - but that is a small price to pay to have the privilege of swapping with these talented ladies. You will have until the first week of September to complete the swap. QUESTIONS? Just leave them here or on YPP and I will answer them ASAP. No indecision here - I promise you this will be a very fun swap!

No Missing Ingredients

I have never done a tutorial because I am not a teacher at heart. My younger sister taught for 30 years and loves it. Me, although I once taught a 6 week vegetarian cooking class that was so popular it was featured in the local paper, I am actually the kind of gal who flies by the seat of her pants. I hate writing down measurements so rarely do my homemade dishes ever taste the same.

So why did I film a tutorial now you might ask? It’s because of the urban myth of the infamous missing ingredient. According to the legend, a homemaker used to make fabulous pies and everyone wanted her recipe, which she willing gave out to anyone who requested it. Hundreds if not thousands of folks attempted to duplicate her tried and true recipe and yet not one person succeeded in making a pie as delicious as hers. There was always something missing but no one could ever figure it out.

Have you figured out why? It’s because she left out one key ingredient…no, it wasn’t a mistake on her part, it was deliberate.

Here is my tutorial on how to alter a mini composition book, including my key ingredients:

 

Sandpaper and Wax Paper

 

Add 1 mini composition book and sandpaper cover.

 

Slip in wax paper and slap on mod podge. 

Cover with Garden Carnival  digital paper from Ephemera's Vintage Garden.

 

A feather, seam binding, stamp, cabinet card and a pinch of Stickles

 

Mix together well

 

 

Decorate with Circus Journaling Cards and enjoy!!

 

See, I told you I wasn't much of a teacher. To see a slightly better tutorial on how I make my mini composition books, with the secret ingredients, watch my tutorial HERE. Let's talk tutorials. Do you make or watch them on YouTube? Who are your favorite teachers?  

A Circus Love Story - Jillian Rose Bailey and Vinni Bombo

I don’t know the whole story, only what I have been able to piece together through letters, post cards and my imagination.

The year was 1924 and the place was Hargrove Oaks, Ohio. Her name was Jillian Rose Baily and she was  a school girl living at home with her family. His name was Vinni Bombo and he came to town with the circus.

What brought the two together we will never know but it was their destiny to meet and fall in love. Jillian Rose was in the audience every night they performed and Vinni introduced her to all his fellow performers. When the circus left they wrote to each other.

I found this box tucked away in an old sewing box under a tray of threads at the thrift shop.

 

 

The mere fact that Jillian Rose kept his letters means that she never forgot Vinni or her love for him. We'll nver know why she never shared the story with any of her family. But had she done that they never would have given this away.

  

Inside this box is a story of love and loss.

  

Cabinet Card Photos of Vinni's fellow performers.

 



Post Cards from Vinni

 

The locket with a photo of her true love - Vinni Bombo

 

Don't worry Jillian Rose, Vinnie's letters are safe with me. And with Debbie at Ephemera's Vintage Garden.  You can view the entire Garden Carnival Collection HERE. 

 

For more about this 1924 Circus Love Story, including the letters Vinni wrote, check out THE VIDEO HERE.

 

The Carnival is in town!

I’m among friends here. Right? So I can admit how I used to feel about digital downloads. Right? They were in my NEVER-EVER-GONNA-HAPPEN list, along with stamps and TH Distress Inks. Fast forward to today. I am finishing up my term as a Design Team Member with Viva Las Vegastamps and cannot live without my Tattered Straw Distress Ink. Seriously folks, it is on almost every project I make. 

Now, let’s talk about digital downloads. In love. Cannot believe it took me this long to see how cost effective buying a kit is for the ever- on-a-budget scrapper like me. My first kit was a Vintage Zebra Journal using Cynthia's Journey from Ephemera's Vintage Garden. I love the way it turned out and it was the catalyst that forever changed my mind about digital kits.

When Debbie, of Ephemera's Vintage Garden, asked me to be a guest designer for her newest project Garden Carnival I was ready to fly through the air with the greatest of ease! Love the circus and love this kit. Check out my first project, a paperbag mini using Michael's circus themed paper bags, yellow/red/black polka dot paper and a bit of Washi tape. All the rest is from Debbi's kit.

Six folded bags and an afternoon of fun!

 

All stamps are from Michael's $1.50 bin

 

I have a love affair with envelopes

There is so much leftover that I am creating two more projects. Stay turned for the next one. Just a teaser but it's not an exaggeration to say it jut might be the thrift store find of the century!!! 

Have you tried a digital kit yet? If not, why not?

A day late but not a dollar short!

I am all aflutter because today yesterday is was National Butterfly Awareness Day! The main purpose of National Butterfly Awareness Day is to raise peoples’ awareness of Butterflies and their importance as pollinators in nature.

There is however one group of people who already know the importance of Butterflies – CRAFTERS! I can say with 100% certainty that each and every one of you has at least one Butterfly in your stash! Who am I kidding? You all have dozens, if not hundreds of Butterflies flying around your craft room.

 
Butterfly paper, embellishments, punches, dies, stickers and stamps. But, if you feel you might be lacking in the stamp department check out the selection at VLVStamps. They have 79 Butterfly Stamps for you to chose from, plus 4 Caterpillar Stamps.   

THIS is one of my favorite butterfly quotes. I may be known as the EllenBee, but Butterflies are a close second to being my favorite insect.

 

I used a piece of leftover corrugated cardboard, a scrap of Prima Paper, leftover lace and a bit of ribbon to make this very simple wall hanging. I rubbed white paint onto the corrugated cardboard then added two layers of distressed pretty paper and a handful of paper butterflies. In the center is a journaling spot that I carefully stamped and then EMBOSSED.    

The Metamorphosis of butterflies is one of the mysteries of Nature. The ability of these insects to change from the crawling caterpillar to the flying adult is magical. I believe it Butterflies, do you?